Things just keep getting better for the 2013 Cadillac ATS. After adding some more bushings to shore up the manual transmission shifter, the BMW 3 Series fighter has started gaining some momentum on its German adversary. Today, the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration announced that the latest ATS aced the agency's crash testing with five stars overall.Both the all-wheel and rear-wheel drive models earned five stars overall in the NHTSA's testing as well as in every category. These include five stars in frontal crash, side crash, and even rollover testing, where most vehicles struggle to get just four stars. Standard safety features on the 2013 Cadillac ATS include ABS, LATCH points, emergency braking assist, child locks, and daytime running lights. Other standard safety features include stability and traction control, airbag deployment notification, a post-collision safety system, and electronic brake-force distribution.For the 2013 model year, the NHTSA rated 54 vehicles including 33 passenger cars (including the ATS), 16 SUVs, four trucks, and one van. The NHTSA's testing group makes up 85 percent of all 2013 model vehicles that are either on the road, or are expected to be on the road in due time. "More Stars. Safer Cars," as the NHTSA's safety program has become known, ranks each vehicle on a scale of one to five; one being the lowest and five being the highest. Back in 2011, the NHTSA updated its ranking system to include a new pole test for side crashes and different size crash dummies capable of collecting more safety data. This new ranking system also highlights new or advanced safety features but many automakers have already added these systems without warrant.Automotive.com's take: Does the NHTSA's safety rating affect your decision when buying a new vehicle? Tell us about it in the comment section below.Source: NHTSA

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This is great to read. It is so important that as the cars we drive upgrade in technology and style that they also upgrade in safety. With all the new technology at our finger tips I think that every new car in the market should be required to get 5 stars on the safety test.